All-Erbium Fibres

Large-mode-area all-erbium fibres have been unveiled by nLight Corp. Manufactured with proprietary direct nanoparticle deposition active fibre production technology, they are suitable for high-power, eye-safe applications at >1.5 μm. These include lidar, rangefinding, sensing, medical and directed energy. The fibres offer core absorptions of 60 to 120 dB/m at 1530 nm and low numerical apertures of <0.10, as well as cores of 20 to 70 μm and claddings from 125 to 400 μm. In combination with the company’s high-brightness pump diodes at 980 nm, they offer the potential to deliver high powers with slope efficiencies of >45 per cent.

An acronym of light detection and ranging, describing systems that use a light beam in place of conventional microwave beams for atmospheric monitoring, tracking and detection functions. Ladar, an acronym of laser detection and ranging, uses laser light for detection of speed, altitude, direction and range; it is often called laser radar.